Objectives
The general objective of this Protocol is to support the attainment of the objectives of the AfCFTA, stipulated in Article 3 of the AfCFTA Agreement, by establishing harmonised rules and common principles and standards that enable and support digital trade for sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development and the digital transformation of the continent.
The specific objectives of this Protocol are to:
a. promote and facilitate intra-African digital trade by eliminating barriers to digital trade among State Parties;
b. establish predictable and transparent harmonised rules, and common principles and standards for digital trade;
c. create a transparent, predictable, secure, and trustworthy digital trade ecosystem for businesses and consumers;
d. enhance cooperation among State Parties on matters related to digital trade;
e. promote common and open standards to enable the interoperability of frameworks and systems to facilitate cross-border digital trade;
f. encourage trusted, safe, ethical, and responsible adoption and regulation of the use of emerging and advanced technologies to support and promote digital trade;
g. promote digital skills development, digital innovation and entrepreneurship, digital industrialisation, and digital infrastructure development to facilitate the digital transformation of State Parties; and
h. provide a common legal framework for digital trade among State Parties.
